From 26 to 27 February 2026, I attended the EU4MOFs Training School for Material Processing and Industry Implementation in Copenhagen, Denmark. The two days turned out to be a genuinely wholesome experience, bringing together early-career researchers, PhD scholars, and established professors from across the Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) community.

The programme balanced academic depth with real-world relevance. Panel discussions and dedicated sessions explored the various applications of MOFs from an academic perspective, alongside their growing role in energy and water treatment applications. What set this training school apart, however, was the strong presence of industry: several companies shared how MOF-related technologies are being scaled up and implemented beyond the lab, offering a grounded, realistic view of what is currently happening on the industrial front.

These conversations sparked real reflection on the academia-to-market bridge and what still needs to change in how we approach research if the journey from lab-scale discovery to real-world impact is to move faster. Meeting people from such a wide range of disciplines, all working toward translating MOF research into tangible societal and industrial benefits, was both eye-opening and motivating.

Copenhagen also became a place to think seriously about career direction. Between the academic sessions, the industry talks, and countless informal conversations, I came away with a much clearer sense of the different paths open to researchers in this field, whether in academia, industry, or the space in between. I left with new connections across multiple disciplines, a stronger understanding of how research translates into real-world impact, and genuine excitement about where this path might lead next.